Farigaig Community Steering Grouphttp://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk
Developing ideas to support the local communityFri, 19 May 2017 10:48:11 +0000en-GBhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.9Report from the AGM on 10 May 2017http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/05/report-from-the-agm-on-10-may-2017/
http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/05/report-from-the-agm-on-10-may-2017/#respondFri, 19 May 2017 10:48:11 +0000http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/?p=88The Annual General Meeting on the 10 May went very well. We didn’t have a huge attendance, but those who were there made some great contributions.

After this we had a interesting and lively discussion on the possibilities and priorities that the committee should look into, including:

Creation of affordable housing with attached workshops in the fields opposite the foresters cottages in Inverfarigaig

Potential for hutting in the woodland near Lochan Torr an Tuill, with access from the Glen Lia road

Potential for a green burial site (this has been very successful in other areas, providing a considerable income)

The poor commercial quality of the timber was discussed, and options for improving this (a long term project)

We were joined by Peter Christie from the Strathnairn Community Woodlands and he gave us some useful advice.

Jeanette Taylor has stepped down from the role of Secretary: she has done a brilliant job over the last year. Her organisational skills and work ethic are very impressive.

We elected two new committee members: Alex Sutherland and David Smith.

We will post reports of our investigations on the website and our Facebook page, where you are welcome to join the ongoing discussion.

]]>http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/05/report-from-the-agm-on-10-may-2017/feed/0AGM Agendahttp://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/05/agm-agenda/
http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/05/agm-agenda/#respondFri, 05 May 2017 09:08:24 +0000http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/?p=83The agenda for our AGM on 12 May is now available. As well as the normal things you would expect to see at and annual general meeting, we have allocated quite a bit of time to presenting our vision of the opportunities that a community land purchase provides. But more importantly, we need you to tell us what you think we should be doing.

We look forward to seeing you at Gorthleck village hall at 7:30 pm on Friday 12 May. Tea and coffee will be available.

Twelve months ago we gathered to consider an approach from the Forestry Commission about transferring the Forest Classroom and public toilets at Farigaig to the community. At first we were driven mainly by the desire to preserve this important local amenity.

Since then we’ve learnt how other communities have used the community woodlands to transform themselves, to stimulate local economies and help create sustainable communities. Driving us too has been our concern that if we miss this opportunity the next generation would think that we had failed them: we had the chance to save our community and we missed it.

Help us get it right. Come along and hear about the opportunity we have, how other communities have benefited, and guide us so we can strike the right balance between creating local employment, benefits for the community such as firewood, improving the visitor experience, promoting our cultural heritage, and protecting the character of this part of Scotland that we all love.

]]>http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/04/annual-general-meeting-12-may-2017/feed/0A New Focushttp://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/03/a-new-focus/
http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/03/a-new-focus/#respondFri, 24 Mar 2017 15:58:27 +0000http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/?p=67Earlier this year we found out that our bid to the Scottish Land Fund for help had been unsuccessful. We were asking for funding for a consultation to establish the wishes of the community of South Loch Ness for a possible purchase of land from the National Forest Estate. In their feedback, the Scottish Land Fund said that they would like to see a more fully developed proposal.
We met earlier this week to consider our options. We had the help of Duncan Bryden to facilitate or referree our discussion, and it proved to be a hugely productive evening.
He challenged us to think about what we were trying to achieve, and surprisingly we found a great deal of agreement Neil Sutherland is going to write up or new vision statement, but it revolves around our desire to use this opportunity to help create a sustainable community in South Loch Ness.
]]>http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2017/03/a-new-focus/feed/0Community Walk at 1 pm on 4 December 2016http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/11/community-walk-at-1-pm-on-4-december-2016/
http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/11/community-walk-at-1-pm-on-4-december-2016/#respondTue, 22 Nov 2016 15:03:15 +0000http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/?p=60Community Walk

Sunday 4th December, 1.00 pm

from the Farigaig Centre, Inverfarigaig

A ramble for all abilities to raise awareness of the Farigaig centre and explore the local environment, in view of the potential community land purchase of some of the area.

All you need is a comfortable pair of walking shoes and a waterproof jacket – it may be wet underfoot in places!

Either meet us at the centre at 1.00 pm or the bus stop outside the Dores Inn to lift share at 12.30.

Refreshments at the forestry building after the walk.

Please contact us to let us know that you plan to come. Candy Cameron on 07973 815208 or candy@lochnessriding.co.uk

There will be people on hand to chat about the possibilities for the area and update you on progress of the project

]]>http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/07/more-photos/feed/0Some Photoshttp://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/06/some-photos/
http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/06/some-photos/#respondWed, 29 Jun 2016 07:54:33 +0000http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/?p=21The main asset being offered by the Forestry Commission for transfer to the community is the building housing the public toilets and the Forest Classroom. Beside the building is an area with seating and some wooden sculptures. Across the road is a small field that could be included, and on the other side of the house (currently used for holiday rental) is the paddock, a steeply sloping field.

]]>http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/06/some-photos/feed/0Welcomehttp://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/06/welcome/
http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/2016/06/welcome/#respondMon, 20 Jun 2016 19:12:32 +0000http://www.farigaigcommunitysteeringgroup.org.uk/?p=13Welcome to the website of the Farigaig Community Steering Group. This group has been set up to explore the offer made by the Forest Commission for Scotland to transfer the facilities at Farigaig Forest to the local community. We plan to carry out a feasibility study to determine the options available, to present these to the local community and then to take forward the preferred option.

This website will provide links to the key documents during this process.

A Facebook page has been established to facilitate discussion and sharing of ideas: https://www.facebook.com/farigaigcommunitygroup/